Automatic electric-circuit changer



(No Model.)

0. J. VAN DEPOELE.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC GIRGUIT CHANGER. No. 285,859. Patented Oct; 2, 1883.

5 MW, g

jizwgj UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC-Cl RCUlT CHANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,859, dated October 2. 138".

Application tiled FclHHflI'Y ll, 1952.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, (HARLICS J. VAX DE- POELE, ot' hicago, in the county of ook and State of .lllinois, have invented new and usel'ul lmpnilvements in. Devices for rrntomatically (hanging the Direction of l llectrical (lurrents; and I dohereby declare that the following is a hill, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drl'twings, which form a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction and operation ol'a device for automatically changing the direction of electrical. currents; and it consists in an automatic switch having a pair of electric magnets connected. in multiple arc, and a centrally-pivoted armature adapted to be held either to the right orlel't when current is passing through the magnets, and a pair of lamps or other working resistances each in circuit with one of the said magnets, and connections whereby the entire current is switched from. one half of the system to the other when the resistance therein becomes ab normally great, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, together with certain details ol'construction and arrangement by which the main featurcs of my invention are carried out.

The length ot'carbon points as now made for use in arc-lamps is insnflicicnt to run more than eight or nine hours under ordinary circumstances; and the object of my invention is to continue thelight, where a longer service is requii.'ed,by automatically changing the current from the lamp wherein the carbons are consumed to a fresh lamp or to other electrodes in the same lamp.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my switch. Fig. 2 is a front end view of the same. Fi 3 is a side view of the same.

In the accompanying drawings, AA are common magnets-cores. is an armature swinging at its center 11. G is a contact-breaker rigidly attached to the center of the armature B, with which it moves. D are contacts leading to binding-posts at 5 5. D are contacts receiving the wires of magnets A. E is a spring rigidly attached at one end to the shaft of armature B. Said spring is .intended to hold the armature 1? in the position shown in the drawings that is, with its ends at equal (Us (No model.)

tance l'rom the poles of the magnets A. except under conditions hereinafter described. F F are carriers for the shalt of said itl'llltll'lllQ, in which carrier the armature swings l'reely. G are set-screws to adjust the spring E to the armature B.

The operation is as follows: II isthe source of electricity, battery, or dynamo machine which is to run the lamps, and 9 is the positi ve pole, where a comlucting-wi re is attached, which carries the currents to the point 8, as shown in. the drawings. A second conductor is connected to the negative pole 1 of the bat tery and to thc-binding-post 2 ot' the switch. The current passes from said bindingqiost through the magnet A, and said binding-post conveys the same current to and through the magnet AF, the (an-rents entering both magnets at the points marked 3 and leaving the magnets at 4-. The conductors attached at ,these points marked 4 are carried to contacts D D-. The current now flows from D D through the contact-brcaker O to contacts I) l) at the points marked 6. The current then flows from the binding-posts 5 5 through proper conductors to the two lamps or electrodes 7 7. The moment the current established the magnet-cores A. A' become mag netized and act upon the armature B. The current is now passing through both lamps at the same time; but, since the cores A A" act on opposite ends of the armature B, one or the other of the magnets will attract the arma ture to its pole, either right or left, and in so doing the contact will be broken with the other pole and with one of the lamps or electrodes. As long as the carbon in theburning lamp lasts the current through itwill not be broken; hence the magnet which is holding the armature will continue to hold the same until the current is broken by the consumption of the carbon in the active lamp. The instant this takes place the magnet which was before operative will new release the armature, which will return, under the actuation of the sprii'lg, to its normal position, and by so doing contact will be made with the next lamp through its corresponding magnet, which is new master of the situation, and this magnet will hold the armature until the second carbon is consumed, when, unless fresh carbons have been supplied to the first lamp, the mag i 4 net will release the armature to resume again its normal condition; but if such fresh carbons have been supplied the change will instantaneously be again made, and so on, as long as the consumed carbons are alternately replaced by fresh ones.

What-I claim as my invention is- 1. In an automatic switch, a pair of elcc troanagnets connected in multiple arc, and a centrally-pivoted armature adapted to be held either to the right or left when current is passing through the magnets, and a pair of lamps or other working resistances, each. in circuit with one of the said magnets, and connections whereby the entire current is switched from one half of the system to the other when the resistance therein becomes abnomal] y great, as set forth.

2. An automatic switch consisting of a cen 20 trallypivoted armature provided with a projecting contactpiece and double-acting reture B, provided with the adjustable doubleacting retracting-spring E, and an oscillating contact-piece, C, and suitable supports, F, with the contact-points D D and connections extending therefrom to the generator and to the working resistances, substantially as shown U and described.

CHARLES \Vitnesses:

' H. S. SrnAcUE,

E. SoULLY.

II. VAN DEPOELE. 

